Vaccination rates across Cardinia Shire are above the state average.
Data released by the State Government on 8 February reveals 96.54 per cent of five-year-old children in Cardinia Shire are fully immunised, compared to 95.3 per cent of children state-wide.
The government has welcomed the figures, which are its best coverage rates in history, and fall above the 95 per cent ‘herd immunity’ target it deems necessary to halt the spread of dangerous and virulent diseases such as measles.
Research shows high rates of vaccination within an area provide protection to those who cannot receive vaccines themselves, such as babies who are too young or people who are restricted by medical conditions.
The record rates come as changes to strengthen ‘No Jab No Play’ laws are in the Parliament.
The proposed changes mean only immunisation history statements from the Australian Immunisation Register will be accepted by childcare and kindergarten providers upon a children’s enrolment.
The No Jab No Play legislation implemented in 2015 meant that as of January 2016, all parents/guardians seeking to enrol their child at an early childhood service in Victoria must provide evidence that the child is fully immunised for their age or on a vaccination catch-up program or unable to be fully immunised for medical reasons.
According to the government, the latest proposed changes would reduce the risk of potentially false vaccination exemptions, which it argues puts community health and safety at risk.
The changes would also help simplify the enrolment process for early year’s education, it said.
“We know the more people who are vaccinated, the greater the protection for everyone,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
“There is no debate, immunisation is safe, effective and saves lives.”
